Extruded aluminum building materials

ABSTRACT

Extruded aluminum building materials are provided for the construction of a house or building. The extruded aluminum building materials include a plurality of I-beams, C-shaped beams, angled beams and interlocking shingles. The plurality of C-shaped beams provide a horizontal frame structure to receive the plurality of I-beams, which form the internal vertical framework of the building. At least one angled roof beam is positioned on upper ends of the I-beams in order to form an angled support for an angled roof. The angled roof may be formed of interlocking shingles, which releasably engage one another to form a continuous shingled roof surface. The extruded aluminum building materials are prefabricated and may be easily transported to a construction site for the easy and efficient construction of a building.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/719,959, filed Sep. 26, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to prefabricated extruded aluminumbuilding materials for the construction of a building. Particularly, theextruded aluminum building materials include a plurality of I-beams, aplurality of C-shaped beams, and at least one angled roof beam forforming the internal framework of the building. More particularly, theextruded aluminum building materials include interlocking roof shinglesfor forming a continuous roof surface.

2. Description of the Related Art

Prefabricated aluminum building materials have been widely used in theconstruction of houses and buildings. Such materials, however, are oftenprovided only in the form of structural panels, designed to locktogether, or other modular components that must be used on their own,rather than being adaptable to general construction. It would bepreferable to provide building materials, which may be adapted for usein general, construction, and used in combination with standardizedbuilding components, such as standard construction I-beams.

Additionally, building material kits are generally only directed to oneaspect of construction, such as providing particular roof beams, or aparticular type of wall panel. It would be preferable to provide aconstruction kit of all the structural materials one would need toconstruct the building, including the framework, the paneling and theroof tiles or shingles, allowing for the easy and efficient constructionof the building.

Further, although roof tiles and shingles are common construction items,they are generally applied to a pre-constructed roof; i.e., first a roofmust be constructed, then the shingles or tiles are mounted on the roof.It would be preferable to provide a roofing system having shingles ortiles, which are structurally strong enough to act as the roofthemselves, requiring mounting on only a prefabricated and easilyconstructed framework. Thus, extruded aluminum building materialssolving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Prefabricated extruded aluminum building materials are provided for theconstruction of a house or building. The extruded aluminum buildingmaterials include a plurality of I-beams, C-shaped beams, angled beamsand interlocking roof shingles. The plurality of C-shaped beams providea horizontal frame structure to receive the plurality of I-beams, whichform the internal vertical framework of the building. The C-shaped beamseach have a longitudinal channel formed therein for receiving the topand bottom ends of the I-beams when the I-beams are positionedvertically. Further, C-shaped beams may be positioned vertically at thecorners of the framework in order to cover exposed channels in theI-beams used at the corners of the framework.

At least one angled roof beam is positioned on upper ends of the I-beamsin order to form an angled support for an angled roof. The angled roofbeam has a longitudinal channel formed therein for receiving the topends of vertically positioned I-beams. The angled roof may be formed ofinterlocking shingles, which releasably engage one another to form acontinuous shingled roof surface. An angled roof vertex beam mayadditionally be provided to horizontally support the vertex of theangled roof. When arranged together to form a continuous roof surface,the central contoured portions of each shingle are spaced apart from oneanother in order to form water drainage channels in the roof. Theextruded aluminum building materials are prefabricated and may be easilytransported to a construction site for the easy and efficientconstruction of a building.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of building made fromextruded aluminum building materials according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmented perspective view of extruded aluminum buildingmaterials of the present invention assembled to form part of the frameof the building at a corner of the building.

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an angled beam member ofthe extruded aluminum building materials according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a C-shaped or channelbeam member of the extruded aluminum building materials of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmented perspective view a shingled roof supported by anangled roof vertex beam member of the extruded aluminum buildingmaterials of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the angled roof vertexbeam member of the extruded aluminum building materials of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an interlocking roofshingle member of the extruded aluminum building materials of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded end view of the interlocking roof shingle membersof the extruded aluminum building materials.

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an alternative embodimentof the interlocking roof shingle member of the subject aluminum buildingmaterials.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides basic, prefabricated, extruded aluminumbuilding materials 10 for the construction of an edifice, such as thesmall house or building 12 illustrated in FIG. 1. Building 12 includesan internal frame structure formed of extruded aluminum I-beams 16, ashingled roof 14, and external paneling or walls 100. As will bedescribed in greater detail below, the extruded aluminum buildingmaterials 10 are lightweight, structurally strong, prefabricatedmaterials, including an internal framework for the construction of ahouse, building or other edifice, allowing for the easy and efficienttransportation of the materials 10 to a construction site, and the rapidand easy construction of a building 12 using the provided materials 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the internal framework of building 12 formed of theextruded aluminum building materials 10 includes a plurality of I-beams16, a plurality of C-shaped beams 18 and at least one angled beam 20(best shown in cross-section in FIG. 3). As illustrated, the base offramework 10 is formed from a plurality of C-shaped beams 18 positionedhorizontally on the floor or ground to form the base of building 12. Ina conventional building structure, such as that shown in FIG. 1,C-shaped beams 18 will be positioned on the ground to form a closedrectangular frame, although the contour of the base is dependent uponthe needs and desires of the user. The C-shaped beams 18 may be producedin selected lengths, depending upon the construction needs of the user.

Each C-shaped beam 18, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4,includes a lower wall 34 and a pair of sidewalls 32. Sidewalls 32project upwardly from lower wall 34 at opposed ends thereof to form aninternal channel 72. As shown in FIG. 2, internal channel 72 is shapedand sized to securely receive I-beams 16 when the I-beams 16 arearranged vertically to form the internal wall framework of building 12.I-beams 16 are fixed within channels 72 through the use of anyconventional fixtures, such as bolts, screws or the like.

As further shown in FIG. 2, at least one angled beam 20 is provided,acting as a support for the angled roof 14, shown in FIG. 1. As bestshown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, angled beam 20 includes apair of sidewalls 22, 24, with sidewall 24 being greater in length thansidewall 22, such that upper wall 30, joining sidewalls 22, 24, ispositioned at an angle with respect to the horizontal. The sidewalls 22,24 and the upper wall 30 define a channel 70, for receiving the top endsof I-beams 16 when the I-beams 16 are arranged vertically, as in FIG. 2.Additionally, a pair of ribs 26, 28 are formed on sidewalls 24, 22,respectively, and project substantially orthogonally therefrom intochannel 70.

When the top ends of I-beams 16 are received within channel 70, the ribs26, 28 contact the top ends of the I-beams 16, thus securing the I-beams16 between ribs 26, 28 and the sidewalls 22, 24 and maintaining theangled wall 30 in its angled position with respect to the horizontal. Asdescribed above with reference to C-shaped beams 18, 1-beams 16 arefixed within channel 70 through the use of any conventional constructionfixtures, such as bolts, screws, rivets or the like.

Referring back to FIG. 2, 1-beams 16 are arranged vertically in order toform the internal framework for the walls of building 12. Bottom ends ofthe I-beams 16 are received within channels 72 of the C-shaped beams 18,which form the base of building 12. The top ends of I-beams 16 arereceived within channels 72 of the upper C-shaped beams 18 and channel70 of the at least one angled beam 20. In the building 12 shown in FIG.1, which includes a symmetric roof, a pair of angled beams 20 would beutilized, positioned opposite one another. The upper angled wall 30provides a support base for the edge of the angled roof 14.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, C-shaped beams 18 may be used to coverexposed channels in the I-beams 16 at the corners of the building 12.Coverage of the exposed channels allows for the secure and stablemounting of wall panels 100. Wall panels 100 may be prefabricatedextruded aluminum sheets, transported to the construction site with theother extruded aluminum building materials 10, and mounted to the framethrough the use of any conventional fixtures, such as bolts, screws,welding or the like.

For a roof 14 having a central vertex, such as roof 14 of FIG. 1, avertex roof beam 36 is provided for supporting the roof 14 at thevertex. As best shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6, the vertexroof beam 36 includes a lower horizontal support 38, a central verticalsupport 40 and an inverted V-shaped support member 42. The centralvertical support 40 is positioned between the lower horizontal support38 and the inverted V-shaped support member 42, as shown. The angling ofthe inverted V-shaped support member 42, with respect to the centralvertical support 40, is dependent upon the angle of the vertex of roof14. As shown in FIG. 5, the inverted V-shaped support member 42 ispositioned below the vertex of roof 14 and provides stable supporttherefor.

Roof 14 may be formed of interlocking extruded aluminum shingles, suchas those illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Each shingle 44 includes firstand second horizontal end portions 56, 46, a vertical wall 50 projectingupwardly from end portion 46, as shown, and an angled central portion52, which is fixed at either end to end portion 56 and vertical sidewall 50, as shown. A receiving member 48 is formed on vertical wall 50,and is positioned beneath central portion 52. Receiving member 48 isshaped to releasably receive engaging member 54, which projects upwardlyfrom end portion 56, as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 illustrates the interlocking engagement of a plurality ofinterlocking shingles 44 to form the shingled roof 14. It should benoted that horizontal end portion 46 provides spacing between eachadjacent central portion 52. This provides for the formation ofhorizontal drainage channels in roof 14, allowing for the collection anddrainage of rainwater.

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the interlocking extrudedaluminum shingle 58 includes an arcuately contoured central region 60,rather than the substantially planar central region 52 of the embodimentof FIGS. 7 and 8. The arcuate central region 60 terminates, at a firstend, in receiving member 62, similar to receiving member 48 in FIG. 7. Ahorizontal spacing wall 64 is formed at an opposed end of central region60. Projecting upwardly from horizontal spacing wall 64 is a verticalwall 66, which has an engaging member 68 formed thereon. In a mannersimilar to that shown in FIG. 8, engaging members 68 of adjacentshingles 58 are received by corresponding receiving members 62, in orderto form a continuous shingled roof 14. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, awater drainage channel, similar to that described above with referenceto FIGS. 7 and 8, is defined by central portion 60, horizontal wall 64,and vertical wall 66.

The interlocking shingles 44, 58 releasably engage one another to form acontinuous roof surface 14. The interlocking nature of shingles 44, 58allows the user to easily selectively alter the size and shape of theroof 14, dependent upon the needs and desires of the user. Further, itshould be noted that the interlocking shingles 44, 58 are formed fromextruded aluminum, which provides the shingles 44, 58 with enoughstructural strength and stability to act as a roof themselves. Inconventional construction, roofing tiles or shingles are applied to apre-constructed roof, formed of lumber or similar materials.Interlocking shingles 44, 58, however, are strong and stable enough toform the roof itself, and may be mounted directly to the internalaluminum framework.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A kit of extruded aluminum building materials, comprising: aplurality of I-beams made from extruded aluminum, each of the I-beamshaving a top end and a bottom end when said I-beam is positionedvertically, each of the I-beams defining a pair of first channels, thepair of first channels extending longitudinally; a plurality of C-shapedbeams made from extruded aluminum, each of the C-shaped beams having alower wall and a pair of sidewalls projecting upwardly therefrom todefine a second channel, the second channel extending longitudinally andbeing dimensioned to receive a top or bottom end of at least one of theI-beams; and at least one angled roof beam made from extruded aluminumhaving a pair of sidewalls and an angled upper wall, the angled upperwall being angled with respect to the pair of sidewalls, a third channelbeing formed in the at least one angled roof beam, the third channelbeing defined by the pair of sidewalls and the angled upper wall, thethird channel extending longitudinally, a projecting rib being formed oneach of the sidewalls and projecting from each of the sidewalls into thethird channel; wherein an internal support frame of an edifice is formedfrom the plurality of I-beams, the plurality of C-shaped beams, and theat least one angled roof beam, the C-shaped beams receiving the I-beamsto secure the I-beams in a vertical position, at least one of theC-shaped beams covering an exposed first channel of one of the I-beamspositioned on a corner of the internal support frame, the at least oneangled roof beam being positioned on an upper edge of the internalsupport frame, the at least one angled roof beam receiving a pluralityof the top ends of the I-beams, the pair of ribs engaging the top ends,the angled upper wall forming an angled support for an angled roof ofthe edifice.
 2. The kit of extruded aluminum building materials asrecited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of roofing shinglesmade from extruded aluminum, each of the roofing shingles having acentral portion formed between opposed proximal and distal end portions,each of the proximal end portions having a receiving member formedthereon, each of the distal end portions having an engaging memberformed thereon, whereby an engaging member of a first one of the roofingshingles is releasably received by a receiving member of a second one ofthe roofing shingles, the first and second roofing shingles beingpositioned adjacent and contiguous with respect to one another, theroofing shingles being attachable to said angled roof beam.
 3. The kitof extruded aluminum building materials as recited in claim 2, whereinthe proximal portion of each said roofing shingle includes a proximalhorizontal member and a vertical wall, the receiving member beingmounted to the vertical wall.
 4. The kit of extruded aluminum buildingmaterials as recited in claim 3, wherein the distal portion of each saidroofing shingle includes a distal horizontal member.
 5. The kit ofextruded aluminum building materials as recited in claim 4, wherein thecentral portion of each said roofing shingle is angled with respect tothe distal and proximal horizontal members.
 6. The kit of extrudedaluminum building materials as recited in claim 5, wherein the verticalwall of the proximal portion projects upwardly from the proximalhorizontal member, a proximal edge of the central portion being joinedto an upper edge of the vertical wall.
 7. The kit of extruded aluminumbuilding materials as recited in claim 2, wherein the distal portion ofeach said roofing shingle includes a distal horizontal member and avertical wall, the engaging member being mounted to an upper end of thevertical wall.
 8. The kit of extruded aluminum building materials asrecited in claim 7, wherein the central portion of each said roofingshingle has a substantially arcuate cross-sectional contour.
 9. The kitof extruded aluminum building materials as recited in claim 8, whereinthe central portion, the distal horizontal member and the vertical wallof each said roofing shingle define a drainage channel.
 10. The kit ofextruded aluminum building materials as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising at least wall panel adapted for attachment to the internalsupport frame.
 11. The kit of extruded aluminum building materials asrecited in claim 1, further comprising a vertex roof beam having a lowerhorizontal support, a central vertical support and an inverted V-shapedsupport member, the inverted V-shaped support member being adapted forsupporting a vertex of the angled roof.
 12. A kit of extruded aluminumbuilding materials, comprising a plurality of roofing shingles made fromextruded aluminum, each of the roofing shingles having a central portionformed between opposed proximal and distal end portions, each of theproximal end portions having a receiving member formed thereon, each ofthe distal end portions having an engaging member formed thereon,whereby an engaging member of a first one of the roofing shingles isreleasably received by a receiving member of a second one of the roofingshingles, the first and second roofing shingles being positionedadjacent and contiguous with respect to one another.
 13. The kit ofextruded aluminum building materials as recited in claim 12, wherein theproximal portion of each said roofing shingle includes a proximalhorizontal member and a vertical wall, the receiving member beingmounted to the vertical wall.
 14. The kit of extruded aluminum buildingmaterials as recited in claim 13, wherein the distal portion of eachsaid roofing shingle includes a distal horizontal member.
 15. The kit ofextruded aluminum building materials as recited in claim 14, wherein thecentral portion of each said roofing shingle is angled with respect tothe distal and proximal horizontal members.
 16. The kit of extrudedaluminum building materials as recited in claim 15, wherein the verticalwall of the proximal portion projects upwardly from the proximalhorizontal member, a proximal edge of the central portion being joinedto an upper edge of the vertical wall.
 17. The kit of extruded aluminumbuilding materials as recited in claim 12, wherein the distal portion ofeach said roofing shingle includes a distal horizontal member and avertical wall, the engaging member being mounted to an upper end of thevertical wall.
 18. The kit of extruded aluminum building materials asrecited in claim 17, wherein the central portion of each said roofingshingle has a substantially arcuate cross-sectional contour.
 19. The kitof extruded aluminum building materials as recited in claim 18, whereinthe central portion, the distal horizontal member and the vertical wallof each said roofing shingle define a drainage channel.